"FORWARD AREA FROLIC"

HQ Highlights, Issue 13, 29 April 1944, Page 1

"FORWARD AREA FROLIC"

'I ' V This was one occasion when the eternal din ‘of jungle night-life was unheard becattCO of a merrymaking bunch of N.Z. troops. It seemed that beer called for celebration, and celebration called for song and gaiety, and plenty of it. Your ’nose for news’ could only attend one of those . ’whoopee sessions’ but readers know that sa the following incidents, or similar, occurred in K numerous tents in the past several days.' . \ ’’Angels’ Abode,” a normal size Army tent, pack*. J cd two dozen jungle veterans with comparative - case',-. z and could have accommodated more had they improvised scats around tent-poles* or suspended to £loth<: d lines etc. Well this gang joined in a round of gai v etics which would have made a Hollywood night spot a. MMLHLI IM—L—l— Hi nil I • more like a church bazal r Hurricane lanterns, lighting the interior, flick* cred and swayed to the discord of voices mingled in , s-o-called harmony. • o “Mid” was appointed barman and t°dk up an Z- position- in the centre of the tent.. Very coon the-"* floor was carpeted with bottle tops which crunched .and crackled as an occasional jitterbug went into his prawcc. The party became gayer as each bottle became a ’dead marine* and song - commusrity and solo* more lusty as evening grew older. ’’Mandoline” - Manley * strummed, eyes and head swaying in time with the syncopation he was manufacturing. Johnny Hadwcn’s I rendering of ’’The Three Little Fishes” was. pathetic. k not to mention the resemblance between singer, and / the subject of his song.’ ’’Honk” was a little perturbed remarking .“Hell., nobody ever asks me to sing He- offered a solo If everybody, would join in verseand chorus II . .• ”■

• Meanwhile, “Slap-happy” Wood decided a a stroll into-the jungle would be- invigorating* If / It wasn’t,it was at least profitable. He espied' \ two fellow-tipplers on' the way to nowhere in part* \ icuXar, shoved one in the mad, and returned with a * bottle which' he - swiped from his” "victimSo it can be seen that plundering also came into the night’s fun! None other than our mournful friend, " SGuzzler” Gillespie was sitting outside on a. tree stump engaged in a little moon-gazing. \-e didn’t ) . explain to him that there wasn’t really a moon " there at alii J “Boogie Woogie" Keenan, a chap who never was very thrilled with his musical nickname, began ' hurling bottles at some of the boys who were gently crooning B-O-O-GID in his direction. This was < done on the off-chance‘that a bottle would came their way - a full one. During this episide “Slaphappy” Wood had been enjoying a ride in a'tram - gave the clothes line in the tent a sharp tug,and asked the ’conductor’ to let him off at "Tojo’s r Terrace Theatre.” ”Honk“ checked the time iron his imaginary, - , and invisible perspex watch, and suggested it was time something was cookin’ in the way of a snack. Bread, onions, and cheese were produced from (censored) adding flavour to an already spicy evening. i It was a most disappointed crowd which heard “HurrHogan’s bitter announcement -“There ain’t no > onions left!” I' gave "Barty” a light as he was having a Xlittle trouble lighting a smoke with his torch I The; <zeyer popular “Strip Polka" was given a great hear- t and at the part which goes “But she stopped, '■'and only just in time, “remarks like "What a-’pitt’” arid other quotes which are not printablb were made i by these he-men of the back-blocks. During this v none too musical interlude an officer was offered H a drink. He t°ok it, gulped, and passed the bottle 1 beck. One wit had filled it with water.’ 1, Maje Conder, the Guest of Honour, dropped in, sunk a few ‘quick ’uns’, put across a. rumpty’ / yum, and evacuated before considering it his duty to maintain a little harmony, and organise a more * orthadox tent layout. By the way. His yarn is not for printing -sorryi The two Hamiltons, both of whom had been on our entertainment list, parted with. a fond “Fare- ■ thee-well Anabel. It was suggested that they -use “Honkie and Georgie Were Lovers" as a theme song. The night was t°o black for a liquor party. After all one has to stumble his way back to his Qwn tent after it and it seemed coral..* and roots J had been deliberately placed along the jungle * tracks to hamper a man’s progress. And the lagoon is goo handy. Why a man may take a midnight, swim, 1 and net know anything about itH That’s all for now boys, if I have exaggerated the whole show I know you’ll overlook it. If I have under, or over estimated your ability us a hard drinking, hard talking, two-fisted -type of Rew Zealander, lot’s biome my old complaint ■Wool* ' ■